10 Things to Know About Illinois Workers’ Compensation

Illinois workers’ compensation law establishes specific requirements for reporting work injuries, obtaining medical treatment, and receiving wage replacement benefits. This page summarizes ten core rules injured workers should understand, including filing deadlines, available benefits, medical treatment rights, settlement considerations, and common issues that can affect workers’ compensation claims under the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act. 10…

Illinois Workers’ Compensation: Benefits, Deadlines, and How the System Works

Workers’ compensation in Illinois is a no-fault system that provides medical treatment and wage replacement benefits to employees injured in the course of their employment. This guide explains how the Illinois workers’ compensation system works, including who is covered, what benefits are available, how and when claims must be filed, and how cases are administered…

Carpal Tunnel Workers’ Comp Claims in Illinois

Carpal tunnel syndrome is one of the most frequently disputed workers’ compensation claims in Illinois — especially in Chicago’s manufacturing, trades, and warehouse industries. Even when your symptoms seem obviously work-related, insurers often argue that carpal tunnel is “degenerative,” “age-related,” or “not caused by your job.” But under the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act, carpal tunnel…

How Much Is a Hand Injury Worth in an Illinois Workers’ Comp Case?

Hand injuries are some of the most common — and most misunderstood — workers’ compensation claims in Illinois. Whether you suffered a TFCC tear, a radius fracture, a metacarpal break, carpal tunnel, De Quervain’s, or even a severe degloving injury, the truth is this: there is no “average” hand injury settlement in Illinois workers’ comp….

Do I Have to Use PTO or Vacation Time for a Workers’ Comp Injury in Illinois?

(Short answer: No—your boss cannot legally make you.) When you get hurt on the job in Illinois, you should be focused on getting medical care and healing—not burning through your hard-earned vacation days or worrying whether your employer will punish you for reporting the injury. Yet, one of the top questions injured workers ask us…

How Much Is a Neck Injury Worth in Illinois Workers’ Compensation?

Short answer: The average workers’ comp settlement for a neck injury in Illinois varies widely. Mild neck strains that heal fully may resolve in the low five figures. Herniated disc cases with injections or surgery often land in the $50,000–$150,000+ range. Serious cervical injuries involving fusion surgery, permanent restrictions, loss of occupation, wage differential benefits,…

Slipped on Ice in a Work Parking Lot in Illinois? Your Rights Under Workers’ Comp and Third-Party Claims

If you slipped on ice or snow in a work parking lot in Illinois, you’re likely wondering: Does workers’ comp cover slipping on ice in a parking lot? What if my employer doesn’t own the lot? Can I sue the property owner or snow removal company? Under the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act (820 ILCS 305),…

Hurt at Work Because of Someone Else’s Negligence? Workers’ Comp vs. Third-Party Lawsuits Explained

If you were hurt at work in Illinois, you might be wondering: “Can I sue someone if I was injured at work in Illinois?” “Can I get more than just workers’ comp?” “What if another driver hit me while I was working?” “What if I slipped and fell in a parking lot or loading dock…

Delivery Driver Killed, Worker Injured in Stabbing at Oswego Chick-fil-A: What Chicago-Area Workers Need to Know

A tragic workplace violence incident recently occurred at a Chick-fil-A restaurant in Oswego, Illinois, where a 19-year-old man was charged with murder and multiple felonies after allegedly stabbing several people. According to reports, one delivery driver was killed and another maintenance worker was seriously injured while performing job-related duties at the restaurant.(Source: ABC7 Chicago) While…

North Chicago Man Crushed to Death at Wauconda Auto Repair Shop: What Illinois Workers Should Know After a Fatal Workplace Accident

A tragic workplace accident occurred in Wauconda, Illinois, when a 37-year-old man from North Chicago was crushed to death beneath a vehicle after it fell from an elevated lift at a local auto repair shop. According to ABC7, the fatal incident happened around 8:52 a.m. at 398 W. Liberty Street when a vehicle slipped off…

Chicago Construction Worker Electrocuted on West Side: What Injured Workers and Electrical Contractors Need to Know

A tragic construction accident on Chicago’s West Side has once again highlighted the extreme dangers faced by electricians, laborers, and construction crews working near energized power lines. According to WGN News, a 33-year-old worker was killed and another was seriously injured after their lift came into contact with a live electrical line on February 25,…

How Much Is a Knee Injury Worth in Illinois Workers’ Comp?

How much is a knee injury worth in Illinois workers’ comp? There isn’t one “average” number that fits every case. A mild sprain that heals fully might settle in the low five figures, while meniscus or ligament tears with surgery often fall in the mid–five-figure to six-figure range. Severe knee injuries involving total knee replacement,…

How Do You Prove a Repetitive Trauma Injury in Illinois Workers’ Comp?

Repetitive trauma cases — especially involving lifting, squatting, kneeling, bending, twisting, or climbing — are some of the most highly disputed claims at the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission. They often turn into battles of medical causation, pitting your treating orthopedic surgeon or physical medicine doctor against the insurance company’s IME doctor. This article, written by…